Danny Abdallah, the father of the Oatlands crash tragedy, has spoken out after a popular bishop he has known for years was stabbed during a sermon.
Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel preached at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley in Sydney’s west on Monday just after 1pm. 19, when a man dressed in black walked up to the altar and stabbed him several times.
There are also reports of several others being taken to hospital as a tense situation unfolds in nearby streets.
Abdallah, who is a devout Christian, said he cannot understand why anyone would want to hurt him.
‘He is a respected man in the community. He is loved by the entire Assyrian community, especially,” he said.
‘He is a wonderful priest. He lives to serve others and help people.’What happened tonight was just devastating.
‘I don’t know why anyone would do that. It doesn’t make sense, he’s a very peaceful man.’
Abdallah and his wife Leila’s children Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, were walking on a footpath to buy ice cream in Oatlands in Sydney’s west when they were hit by a car and killed on February 1. 2020.
The driver, Samuel Davidson, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time.
He is serving 20 years in prison.
Despite the terrible tragedy and the anger he felt, he publicly forgave Davidson, crediting his faith for giving him the courage to do so.
